Mesothelioma Cancer
56What is Mesothelioma ?
Mesothelioma. What is it ? Some people have heard of it. Most haven't. Some people have it. Most don't. What exactly is mesothelioma ?
Mesothelioma is a cancer, a deadly one ! The prognosis for this disease is not very promising. Most patients who undergo treatment can expect to live only 1-2 years at most. It isn't like some of these other cancers where you can even live for another 10 years.
How does one get mesothelioma then ? This deadly cancer is caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust. You have to have inhaled this asbestos many, many years ago. Try 30-50 years ago. Yes, it has an extremely long latency period.
There are 3 main forms of mesothelioma cancer. The first one is the most common, accounting for up to 75% of all diagnosed cases, and is known as pleural mesothelioma. This one is virtually untreatable. It is called pleural mesothelioma because it affects the lining of the lungs, the pleura. Sometimes it is confused with lung cancer. Symptoms sometimes ressemble those of the flu or even pneumonia, making it a rather arduous task to pro[erly diagnose it at first. The second most common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma.
The peritoneum is the lining of the abdomen. When the asbestos dust becomes lodged there peritoneal mesothelioma arises. It accounts for about 10-20% of all cases, and is also the most painful of the three. Peritoneal meosthelioma can also affect a man's testicles. The layer that covers the scrotum is actually an outpouching of the peritoneum. The asbestos fibres could well move from the abdomen to the scrotum. When the testicles are affected surgery is usually the only option !
The last known form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma. The lining that surrounds the heart is called the pericardium. Symptoms are usually heart palpitations, and the prognosis is very bleak; 6 weeks to 15 months at best.
Treatment for mesothelioma usually involves the same methods used for nay cancer; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. However, to try and prolong the life expectancy of a patient doctors tend to employ all three methods, a procedure known as trimodality therapy. This has proven quite effective as it has been shown to increase one's life expectancy by up to 5 years.
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Comments
These are very important medical facts and info on mesothelioma..^^ A lot of people looking for answers on what kind of disease this one is will surely benefit from your hub..^^ hope you'll post more this type of blog..^^
Cancer information is usually not that nice information but very important information, this is very comprehensive stuff -thanks for putting it together! Great page
I am not familiar with this subject matter and it looks like you have given some good resources for those people that may be affected with it.
Now I know, thanks to you!
This is an important subject that not a lot of people know much about. This was very informative. Thank you for posting it.
I heard of Mesothelioma before via press coverage of the World Trade situation in which after all was said and done many workers on the site came down with this particular disease. The press really never went into the fact that there were 3 different types. I am so glad I read this article. It is very informative and brought to light things that I didn't know about this type of cancer. Very good article love it !!
You have taken the scare out of the word for me. I am still fearful that I may become a sufferer, but you have put the causes and possibilities into perspective. I thank you for your informative, and sensitive, blog.
Jupitehero1 says:
18 months ago
This is kind of scary but some really useful information. I was unaware of this particular type of cancer. Very informative I'll have to spread the word to other people who may ot be aware.